A MODERN TAFE NSW FOR THE REGION SIGNALS A NEW ERA

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A modernised structure for TAFE NSW will reduce overheads, direct more resources to frontline teaching and guarantee TAFE is meeting the training and skills needs of the Electorate’s community and economy.

The region will also benefit from refurbishments to facilities in Lithgow and an upgrade to all ICT infrastructure across Western NSW to provide students with greater access to facilitated online learning.

Mr Toole said the NSW Government has released a vision for once-in-a-generation reform of TAFE NSW which will see the independent Institute structure dissolved and replaced with a single, multi-campus TAFE NSW.

“This reform is about providing more choice, better access and convenient training for our students to help them get the jobs of the future,” said Mr Toole.
“It will make significant savings on back office administration and management which will be reinvested back into training and skilling more people in NSW.

“Importantly, for every $1 million saved through this reform, the NSW Government can subsidise the training for 250 extra students to help them get their first job, or upskill for their next career step.”

These changes are being made to grow the number of enrolments and in turn the number of teachers by removing inefficiencies that currently see between 40 and 60 cents in each TAFE dollar being spent on administration.

Minister for Skills John Barilaro said the 25-year-old TAFE Institute model was designed to create competition between the Institutes to increase student choice; however, with the variety of options available today TAFE doesn’t need to compete with itself.

“Excessive overheads, a large and underutilised asset base, and inflexible workforce arrangements are diverting valuable Government funding away from the most important job TAFE has – training our workforce of the future,” Mr Barilaro said.

“This year, the NSW Government will subsidise up to 550,000 places in vocational training which will help people into their first job, or reskill into a new job and TAFE NSW has an important role to play in helping people achieve their career goals.”

Under these reforms, the NSW Government will also:

Open a series of brand new Flexible Learning Centres from February 2017 – giving remote and disadvantaged students access to TAFE training and teaching across the network